PRINCIPLE OF ARTS AND DESIGN

Arrangement
-arrange he elements
of the elements
of arts of
into
arts
in the composition.
Composition.
COMPOSITION

The way an artwork is arranged.

 MOVEMENT
Your paints cannot physically move, but you can
arrange the paints in a way which gives the
illusion or suggestion of movement.
MOVEMENT

The path the viewer’s

eye takes through the
artwork, often the
areas of focus.
 BALANCE
A painting could
be balanced if one
half is of the same
visual weight as
the other half.
BALANCE
The visual weight of each element is distributed in a way that makes a
composition feel stable.
 SYMMETRICAL
The artwork
could be divided
into half and
both sides would
look the same.
 RADIAL

Radial balance is symmetry

in several directions.
Visual elements are
arranged around a central
point in the composition,
like the spokes on a wagon
wheel.
 ASSYMMETRIC
The two halves
of a balanced
asymmetric
artwork do not
look the same
but have similar
visual weights.
 How to Create Balance in Art

Four variables that impact the balance of a composition.

- Size
- Color
- Position
- Texture and Pattern
 SIZE
Larger objects have
more visual weight
than smaller objects,
all else being equal.
 COLOR
Bright colors are
visually heavier than
dull colors. Beyond
that, if two colors are
of similar intensity,
then the warmer of
the two colors has
more visual weight.
POSITION
TEXTURE AND VALUE
 UNITY and HARMONY
Using similar or repeated
elements in an artwork
to create consistency
(marks, mood, color,
theme…etc)

How well all the visual

elements work together.
 VARIETY
Using many different elements to
create interest or contrast in an
artwork.
 RHYTHM

Repeating
elements in order
to create a feeling
of organized
movement.
 PATTERN
Repeated design.
 PROPORTION
Ratio; comparing parts of a whole in terms of size.
 EMPHASIS

What we focus
on in an artwork.
Usually the
largest or most
detailed area.